T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S ' was a c c om p lis h e d DEVOTIONAL against the opposition COMMENT of Pharaoh. The re- By F. W. Farr turn from captivity was made with the co operation of Cyrus. Mighty signs and wonders accompanied the exodus. There was no miraculous intervention at the time of the return. The exodus in cluded every Israelite in Egypt. The re turn was the revival of a small rem nant. It was, however, a true revival. The people were restored to their true place and their first love. The Word of God was once more made their rule of life and final appeal. The altar tem ple was set up according to the com mandment given unto Moses. There was a solemn renewal of the legal cove nant between the people and Jehovah. The prophecy of Malachi is one of pe culiar weight and solemnity. The con dition of Israel demanded this. The older ones of the return had passed away. Their children had been born into a position for which they had not paid the price. The state of things is some what Laodicean in its character. There is luke-warmness, spiritual poverty and self-complacency. Malachi’s prophecy declares the love of Jehovah for Israel and condemns their neglect of his serv ice. The first word of the Lord to His backsliding people was not, “ Ye ought to love Me.” That would have been law. It was not, “ Ye have not loved Me.” That would* have been truth. It was, "I have loved you.” That was grace. They had not lost the fact of Divine love, but they had lost the sense of it and the faith of.it. “ Wherein hast thou loved us?” Jehovah condescends to rea son with them and points to the res toration from Babylon as a proof and demonstration of it. Relationship im plies responsibility, ch. 1:6-7. The double reproach addressed to the prièsts corresponds to the two relationships of father and master. The table speaks of the provision of the Father’ s ho.use,
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When they can recite together Psa. 34:1-3: “ I w ill bless the L o rd at a ll tim es! his praise sh all co n tin u a lly be in m y m outh. M y sonl sh all m ake h er boast in the L o rd ; the htimble shall hear thereof and be g la d . _ O m a g n ify the L o rd w ith me and le t ns exalt his name together.” then the Lord says they shall be a pecu liar treasure unto Him in the day that He is preparing, and He will spare them as a man spares his own son. God’s Book has names in it; it has words and thoughts in it; it has data on gifts and service and self-denial avd testimony; it is all there and the record will be tried in the fire of God’s judg ment of the saints. What will he your record? PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Before the first advent of the Messiah, the messenger came to an nounce Him. (2) Before the second advent of Christ to the earth, Elijah will appear. (3) Christian men rob God by fail ing to keep the outward observance of worship. (4) America is robbing God by withholding His Word from the public schools. (5) God’s storehouse is empty be cause God’s storekeepers have been stealing. (6) Many men are unprofitable servants because they are serving for profit. (7) The faithful remnant are borne in the remembrance of the Lord. (S) God’s people are a peculiar treasure to Him. (9) There will be no change in God’s ledger. You will be charged with your privileges and opportunities and credited with your gifts and service.
The return from Babylon was no less a Divine work than the exodus from Egypt, but there is a marked, contrast between the two events. The exodus
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